Can any current grad students or recent graduates give some perspective about quality of life in a PhD program? Is there time to have a personal life/ date/ enjoy where you are living?
I am currently working as a clinical research assistant. I like my job, like the creativity of coming up with research questions, working with study participants, and feeling like my work is making a difference in people's lives. My intention starting this job was to apply to clinical psychology PhD programs after 2 years.
Recently I have been having doubts though. I currently live in a really small town and feel like I have not been able to have much of a life here because my job is isolating and there are not a lot of people my age in the area. I'm concerned that if I go into a PhD program, I will not have a chance to enjoy any of my 20s. I am not averse to hard work but want to experience living in a city, go out occasionally with people around my age and dating. I know that PhD programs located in major cities tend to be super competitive, and have heard there is not much time to explore the surrounding area anyway.
I have thought about taking more time off to work as a research assistant in a different environment, but want to have a family at some point and feel like its pretty much now or never for a PhD program.
My questions are: Are you or did you enjoy your time as a grad student? Does the experience tend to be isolating, or is it easy to meet people? If you are/were in your 20s while in grad school, do you feel like you missed out on anything and do you have regrets?
I am currently working as a clinical research assistant. I like my job, like the creativity of coming up with research questions, working with study participants, and feeling like my work is making a difference in people's lives. My intention starting this job was to apply to clinical psychology PhD programs after 2 years.
Recently I have been having doubts though. I currently live in a really small town and feel like I have not been able to have much of a life here because my job is isolating and there are not a lot of people my age in the area. I'm concerned that if I go into a PhD program, I will not have a chance to enjoy any of my 20s. I am not averse to hard work but want to experience living in a city, go out occasionally with people around my age and dating. I know that PhD programs located in major cities tend to be super competitive, and have heard there is not much time to explore the surrounding area anyway.
I have thought about taking more time off to work as a research assistant in a different environment, but want to have a family at some point and feel like its pretty much now or never for a PhD program.
My questions are: Are you or did you enjoy your time as a grad student? Does the experience tend to be isolating, or is it easy to meet people? If you are/were in your 20s while in grad school, do you feel like you missed out on anything and do you have regrets?